A huge part of my life the past two months has been the remodel of our kitchen.

It has absolutely affected my ability to blog, work on photography, and exercise.

Well. That sounds like a good excuse to me.

Right before we decided to move ahead with the demolition of our 1980’s extravaganza, we found out from my mom’s breast biopsy that she has breast cancer and she had immediate surgery. This made the emptying of the kitchen and demolition a little more stressful, really because of the emotions involved of worrying about my mom and her surgery results and future. My head was not quite in the place of thinking about cabinet doors and sink styles.

Mom’s biopsy results and resulting chemotherapy treatment coincided with the whole kitchen remodel. When I look at the kitchen now, it feels bright, clean, happy, and warm. This is exactly where I’m hoping my mom will be in about six months, because right now she is passing through a hell that reoccurs every three weeks.

I’ve never had the opportunity to design a kitchen. I have actually done a little design work for some businesses and friends as well as paint consultations, but I’m a kitchen virgin. I trusted my general contractor and his answers to my questions, because he has been around forever and can do just about anything in the realm of handy. What a catch for his wife. Seriously!

The cabinet designer I chose also lent a lot of great insight and enthusiasm, and he was able to fulfill every request I threw at him for an amazing cost. We originally were going to go with IKEA cabinets/design, but then Eric Lassig at Eurocraft Cabinetry gave us a very reasonable bid for custom cabinetry. It is so beautiful. Every time a door closes softly, I swoon.

I did have a vision of what I wanted in this very important room and the materials and colors I wanted to use. I’m so in love with the color on my walls and ceiling, which Stacia calls “Baby Poo”. I told her I like newborn babies and their poo, but even better I like this paint color by Benjamin Moore called “Ochre”. It is funky and different and happy, and it is just what I wanted in contrast to the neutral and light materials I picked out for all my other surfaces.

I’m so beyond thrilled to have a working kitchen again I could whistle “It’s A Small World” out my bunghole. The makeshift kitchen in the downstairs office was interesting and all…and the use of the propane camp stove in the driveway a fun novelty for the kids, but FOR REAL. I love to cook and I love looking out my window above the sink at Mount Olympus. Kitchens make your life so much EASIER. Thank you, God, for not letting me live in the times of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Like I said, washing dishes in the downstairs bathtub for six weeks sucked. But we did it. And Brad and I rarely fought during the whole process, for which I’m going to give us a big gold star on our marriage report card for 2013. I have heard that remodeling is one of the biggest causes of stress in a marriage. Seriously. If you have gone through a huge remodel or building of a home, you might relate to this. I even read an article online about it.

“Building or remodeling a home can be about the most stressful activity a married couple can engage in,” says Dr. Don Gilbert, a marriage counselor in West Des Moines, Iowa.

“It has all the components that couples stress over — money, multiple decisions, and different preferences. In fact, there are so many opportunities for relationship stress during remodeling that it brings out in each person the weaknesses they may have in communication and conflict management.” (Jan Soults Walker, Houselogic.com)

Brad probably did the right thing by just giving me full control in picking out the right stuff for the kitchen and handling all the planning while he made sure the whole thing didn’t go over budget wrote the checks.

NOW THAT’S TEAMWORK.

Now, as I give you an imaginary online drumroll, dear Ace in the Holers, I bring to you…THE NEW KITCHEN with Before and After pictures for your viewing pleasure! I hope you love it.

I like to incorporate personal pieces into each room of my house. Do you see that funky flower painting above the metal cabinet? That was painted by my great-grandmother, Nelle Hostetter. I put new pictures of friends and family into frames for our shelves. The little owl salt and pepper shakers you see in the corner near the coffee maker were given to me by my good friend Melissa.

If you live in the Salt Lake area and are interested in help with your kitchen (or any room in your house), I would be thrilled to assist you. I have very reasonable consultation fees, and if you provide the margaritas, we will have a blast. Feel free to contact me for design or resume information at: piper@heraceinthehole.com .

Thank you, thank you – to all of you who read – for being patient with me these past two months as I’ve neglected this little place in the Internet I call mine. It was worth the wait. And now we can get back to our regular crazy programming.